Catheter system for implanting an intravascular medical device

ABSTRACT

A catheter system and method are employed to implant components of a medical device inside an animal. The catheter system includes a plurality of coaxial catheters and sheaths between which electrically interconnected components of the medical device are releasably held. A guide wire is inserted to a desired location inside the animal and the plurality of catheters and sheaths is slid as an assembly along the guide wire to that location. One of the sheaths is moved with respect to the other catheters and sheaths to release one of the components. The guide wire and the remaining catheters and sheaths are repositioned to a second location inside the animal and manipulated to release another component. Additional components can be implanted by further repositioning and manipulating steps. The catheter system is removed from the animal leaving the components in place.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/112,181 filed on Apr. 22, 2005.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to medical devices that are implanted into the vasculature of an animal, and more particularly to the apparatus for performing the implantation.

2. Description of the Related Art

A remedy for people with slowed or disrupted natural heart activity is to implant a cardiac pacing device which is a small electronic apparatus that stimulates the heart to beat at regular rates.

Typically the pacing device is implanted in the patient's chest and has sensor electrodes that detect electrical impulses associated with in the heart contractions. These sensed impulses are analyzed to determine when abnormal cardiac activity occurs, in which event a pulse generator is triggered to produce electrical pulses. Wires carry these pulses to electrodes placed adjacent specific cardiac muscles, which when electrically stimulated contract the heart chambers. It is important that the electrodes be properly located to produce contraction of the heart chambers.

Modem cardiac pacing devices vary the stimulation to adapt the heart rate to the patient's level of activity, thereby mimicking the heart's natural activity. The pulse generator modifies that rate by tracking the activity of the sinus node of the heart or by responding to other sensor signals that indicate body motion or respiration rate.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,445,953 describes a cardiac pacemaker that has a pacing device, which can be located outside the patient, to detect abnormal electrical cardiac activity. In that event, the pacing device emits a radio frequency signal, that is received by a stimulator implanted in a vein or artery of the patient's heart. Specifically, the radio frequency signal induces a voltage pulse in an antenna on the stimulator and that pulse is applied across a pair of electrodes, thereby stimulating adjacent muscles and contracting the heart.

The stimulator in that wireless system is powered by the energy of the received signal thus requiring that the pacing device transmit a relatively strong radio frequency signal in order to provide adequate energy to the stimulator implanted deep in the patient's chest. It is desirable to place the stimulator, or at least the antenna for the stimulator, in a blood vessel located closer to the skin of the patient with electrodes implanted in one or more cardiac blood vessels and connected to the stimulator by wires extending through the electronic circuit circulatory system. This would enable more of the energy from the frequency signal to reach the stimulator, however, the blood vessels close to the skin are not sufficiently large to accommodate the size of the stimulator.

The antenna, usually in the form of a coil, must possess several characteristics in order to function within the blood vessel. The coil must retain its shape in order to remain tuned to the particular radio frequency being used. The conductors of the antenna have to be insulated so that the blood and other substances flowing through the vascular system do not provide a short circuit or otherwise detune the antenna. In addition the antenna must be biologically compatible with the blood vessel walls and with the blood.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide an apparatus for positioning each of the components of the medical device in the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A catheter system is provided to implant a medical device in an animal, wherein the medical device has a plurality of components that are to be placed at different locations. The system is particular adapted to implant a medical device in which the components are electrically interconnected by wires.

The catheter system comprises a guide wire, a first catheter with a guide wire lumen for slidably receiving the guide wire, and a tubular outer sheath through which the first catheter extends. A first cavity is formed between the first catheter and the outer sheath within which a first component of the medical device is releasably located. A second cavity also is formed between the first catheter and the outer sheath within which a second component of the medical device is releasably located.

In a preferred embodiment, the catheter system further includes a second catheter with a lumen within which the first catheter is slidably received. Thus, the first and second catheters are both within the outer sheath. The first cavity is located between the first and second catheters and the second cavity is located between the second catheter and the outer sheath. As an option, an inner sheath may be provided between the first and second catheters, with the first cavity between the first catheter and the inner sheath. More catheters and sheaths may be added coaxially on the catheter system to deliver additional components into the animal.

The catheter system is manipulatable to independently release each of the first and second components at different locations in the animal. Initially the guide wire is inserted into the animal to a first location. Then, the assembly of catheters is slid over the guide wire until reaching the first location. The outer sheath is moved over the second catheter to expose the second component, that is deposited at the first location.

If a desired second location for implantation of the second first component is along the existing route of the guide wire through the animal, the first and second catheters are slid along the guide wire to place the first component at the second location. Otherwise, the guide wire can be repositioned to the second location before the first and second catheters are slid into place. Thereafter, the first and second catheters are moved with respect to each other to expose the first component, which is deposited at the second location.

A second embodiment of a catheter system having two guide wires and two catheter assemblies, one for each guide wire, also is described. The two catheter assemblies cooperate to implant a greater plurality of components, that are electrically interconnected by wires.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representation of a cardiac pacing system attached to a medical patient;

FIG. 2 is an isometric, cut-away view of a patient's blood vessels in which a receiver antenna, a stimulator and an electrode of an intravascular medical device have been implanted at different locations;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through a distal end of a catheter system for implanting the components of the intravascular medical device;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view through a catheter system along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross sectional view through a catheter system along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view through a catheter system along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 7-14 depict a sequence of steps by which the components of the intravascular medical device are implanted in the patient; and

FIGS. 15-25 illustrate an alternative sequence of steps by which the medical device components are implanted in a patient's vascular system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the present invention is being described in the context of implanting components of a cardiac pacing system, it can be used to implant other types of medical devices into a patient's body. Furthermore, the present apparatus and method are not limited to implanting items in an animal's vascular system, but can be employed to implant elements elsewhere in the animal.

Initially referring to FIG. 1, a cardiac pacing system 10 for electrically stimulating a heart 12 to contract comprises an external power source 14 and a medical device 15 implanted in the circulatory system of a human medical patient. The medical device 15 receives a radio frequency (RF) signal from the power source 14 worn outside the patient and the implanted electrical circuitry is electrically powered from the energy of that signal. At appropriate times, the medical device 15 delivers an electrical stimulation pulse into the surrounding tissue of the patient.

The power source 14 may be the same type as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,445,953 and 6,907,285 and includes a radio frequency transmitter that is powered by a battery. The transmitter periodically emits a signal at a predefined radio frequency that is applied to a transmitter antenna in the form of a coil of wire within a band 22 that is placed around the patient's upper arm 23. In a basic version of the cardiac pacing system 10, the radio frequency signal merely conveys energy for powering the medical device 15 implanted in the patient. In other systems, the transmitter modulates the radio frequency signal with commands received from optional circuits that configure or control the operation of the medical device 15.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the exemplary implanted medical device 15 includes an intravascular stimulator 16 located a vein or artery 18 in close proximity to the heart. Because of its electrical circuitry, the stimulator 16 is relatively large requiring a blood vessel that is larger than the arm vein, e.g. the basilic vein, which is approximately five millimeters in diameter. Therefore, the stimulator 16 may be implanted in the superior or inferior vena cava. Electrical wires lead from the stimulator 16 through the cardiac vascular system to one or more locations in smaller blood vessels 19, e.g. the coronary sinus vein, at which stimulation of the heart is desired. At such locations, the electrical wire 25 are connected to a remote electrode 21 secured to the blood vessel wall.

Because the stimulator 16 of the medical device 15 is near the heart and relatively deep in the chest of the human medical patient, a receiver antenna 24 for the RF signal is implanted in a vein or artery 26 of the patient's upper right arm 23 at a location surrounded by the transmitter antenna within the arm band 22. That arm vein or artery 26 is significantly closer to the skin and thus receiver antenna 24 picks up a greater amount of the energy of the radio frequency signal emitted by the power source 14, than if the receiver antenna was located on the stimulator 16. Alternatively, another limb, neck or other area of the body with an adequately sized blood vessel close to the skin surface of the patient can be used. The receiver antenna 24 is connected to the stimulator 16 by a micro-coaxial cable 34.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the intravascular stimulator 16 has a body 30 constructed similar to well-known expandable vascular stents. The stimulator body 30 comprises a plurality of wires formed to have a memory defining a tubular shape or envelope. Those wires may be heat-treated platinum, Nitinol, a Nitinol alloy wire, stainless steel, plastic wires or other materials. Plastic or substantially nonmetallic wires may be loaded with a radiopaque substance which provide visibility with conventional fluoroscopy. The stimulator body 30 has a memory so that it normally assumes an expanded configuration when unconfined, but is capable of assuming a collapsed configuration when disposed and confined within a catheter assembly, as will be described. In that collapsed state, the tubular body 30 has a relatively small diameter enabling it to pass freely through the vasculature of a patient. After being properly positioned in the desired blood vessel, the body 30 is released from the catheter and expands to engage the blood vessel wall. The stimulator body 30 and other components of the medical device 15 are implanted in the patient's circulatory system using a novel technique that employs a unique catheter system described hereinafter.

The body 30 has a stimulation circuit 32 mounted thereon and, depending upon its proximity to the heart 12, may hold a first electrode 20 in the form of a ring that encircles the body. Alternatively, when the stimulator 16 is relatively far from the heart 12, the first electrode 20 can be remotely located in a small cardiac blood vessel much the same as a second electrode 21. The stimulation circuit 32, which may be the same type as described in the aforementioned U.S. patents, includes a power supply to which the micro-coaxial cable 34 from the receiver antenna 24 is connected. The power supply utilizes electricity from that antenna to charge a storage capacitor that provides electrical power to the stimulation circuit. A conventional control circuit within the stimulation circuit 32 detects the electrical activity of the heart and determines when electrical pulses need to be applied so that the heart 12 contracts at the proper rate. When stimulation is desired, the stimulation circuit 32 applies electrical voltage from its internal storage capacitor across the electrodes 20 and 21. The second electrode 21 and the first electrode when located remotely from the stimulator 16, can be mounted on a collapsible body of the same type as the stimulator body 30.

With reference to FIG. 3, the components of the medical device 15 are inserted into the patient utilizing a catheter system 50 which is a meter or more long as is necessary to extend from an incision in the patient through the vascular system to the various locations where the components of the medical device 15 are to be implanted. The catheter system 50 has a proximal end that remains outside the patient to which the physician has access to manipulate the elements of the catheter system, and has a distal end that is inserted into the patient and which contains the medical device components.

The distal end section of the catheter system 50 is illustrated in FIG. 3 to which continuing reference is made. The catheter system comprises a conventional guide wire 52 over which an assembly 51 of several catheters and sheaths are coaxially inserted. Those catheters and sheaths are made of a flexible biologically compatible material commonly used for medical catheters. A first, or inner, catheter 54 has a tubular construction with a lumen 55 through which the guide wire 52 extends, see also the cross-section through this region of the catheter system 50 in FIG. 4. A first component, such as the second electrode 21, of the medical device is positioned around the end of the first catheter 54 with a first inner sheath 56 around the first component to maintain it in a collapsed state. A first cavity 57 is formed between the first catheter 54 and the first inner sheath 56 within which the first component is located. The first inner sheath 56 extends longitudinally to the proximal end of the first catheter 54 which is outside the patient. Both the first catheter 54 and the first inner sheath 56 have a distal end that is spaced from the distal end 53 of catheter assembly 51.

A second, or intermediate, catheter 58 extends longitudinally over the first inner sheath 56 so that the inner components of the catheter system 50 described thus far are located within a lumen 60 of the second catheter 58, see also the cross-section through this region in FIG. 5. The end of the second catheter projects beyond the end of the first catheter, but falls short of the distal end 53 of the catheter assembly 51. The antenna 40, which also is referred to herein as a second component of the medical device 15, is placed around the end section of the second catheter 58 and is held in an elongated, reduced diameter state by a second inner sheath 62 that extends around the antenna 40 and along the second catheter 58 to the proximal end of the catheter system 50. A second cavity 63 is defined between the second catheter 58 and the second inner sheath 62 within which the second medical device component is located.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, a third catheter 64 is located around and extends along the outside of the second inner sheath 62 and projects to substantially the distal end 53 of the catheter assembly 51. A third component, in this case the stimulator 16, is located around the third catheter 64 and is held in its collapsed state by a third, or outer, sheath 66 that forms the outermost element of the catheter system 50 extending around all of the other elements. A third cavity 65 is located between the third catheter 64 and the third sheath 66 within which the stimulator 16 is located. The electrical wire 25 extends from the stimulator 16 through the catheter system 50 to the first component, electrode 21, and the micro-coaxial cable 34 extends from the stimulator 16 to the second component 40. More coaxially arranged catheters and sheaths can be provided to deliver additional components of a medical device.

The medical device 15 is implanted in the vascular system of the patient by first inserting the guide wire 52 as depicted in FIG. 7. An incision is made into large blood vessel in the patient's thigh, for example, using conventional surgical procedures for inserting catheters. The guide wire 52 is then threaded through the vasculature until its distal end reaches the location at which the stimulator 16 is to be implanted. Next, the catheter assembly 51 is inserted over the proximal end of the guide wire 52 and pushed there along to the location selected for the stimulator implantation, as shown in FIG. 8. With the stimulator 16 properly positioned within the blood vessel 18, the outer, or third sheath 66 is pulled out of the patient while maintaining the remainder of the catheter system 50 in place. Once the third sheath 66 clears the stimulator 16, the stimulator's body 30 expands diametrically against the wall of the blood vessel 18 thereby securing the stimulator 16 in place, as illustrated in FIG. 9. This diametric expansion of the stimulator body 30 causes a longitudinal contraction as evident from a comparison of the length of the stimulator 16 in FIGS. 8 and 9. It should be noted that before the third sheath 66 fully exposes the stimulator body 30, that sheath can be pushed back into the patient over the third catheter 64 and the exposed portion of the stimulator 16. This action re-collapses the stimulator body 30 so that it may be repositioned within the blood vessel 18.

With reference to FIG. 10, after implanting the stimulator 16, the guide wire 52 is advanced through the vascular system until it reaching a point at which the antenna 40 is desired to be placed in blood vessel 26. Thereafter, the remainder of the catheter assembly 51 is advanced along the guide wire 52 until the distal end 53 reaches the desired location (as seen as FIG. 3). As this advancement occurs, the micro-coaxial cable 34 connecting the antenna 40 to the stimulator 16 is unfurled from catheter assembly. Next, the physician withdraws the second inner sheath 62 from the patient. When the second inner sheath 62 has been withdrawn sufficiently to expose the antenna 40, that component contracts longitudinally and expands diametrically against the inner surface of the blood vessel 26. That action secures the antenna 40 in place, as shown in FIG. 11. Before the antenna 40 has been fully exposed, the second inner sheath 62 may be pushed back into the patient to re-collapse the partially expanded antenna, if necessary.

With the antenna 40 secured in place, the physician extracts the remainder of the catheter system 50, including the guide wire 52 from the blood vessel 26 to a junction where the assembly can be directed into the other blood vessel 19 for implantation of the second electrode 21. From that withdrawn position, the guide wire 52 alone is advanced through the vascular system until its distal end reaches the location within blood vessel 19 at which the electrode is to be implanted. Then, the remainder of the catheter assembly 51 is advanced along the guide wire 52 until its distal end 53 reaches the distal end of the guide wire, as depicted in FIG. 12. At this point, the first, or inner, catheter 54 and its surrounding sheath 56 are located at the distal end of the guide wire along with the second electrode 21. With that electrode properly positioned within the blood vessel 19, the first sheath 56 is withdrawn from the patient along the first catheter 54. Upon being exposed, the second electrode 21 expands to engage the wall of the blood vessel 19, thereby being secured in place as illustrated in FIG. 13. Other techniques for securing the electrode and the other components in the blood vessel wall may be employed. Then, the first catheter 54 and guide wire 52 are withdrawn from the vascular system of the patient leaving the components of the medical device 15 in place, as shown in FIG. 14.

The first catheter system 50 employs a single catheter assembly 51 that comprises coaxially located catheters and sheaths to carry the components of the medical device 15. FIGS. 15-22 illustrate a second catheter system 70 having first and second catheter assemblies 71 and 72, which are inserted through the vascular system of the patient. These catheter assemblies 71 and 72 are structurally each similar to the catheter assembly 51 previously described. The first catheter assembly 71 is used to deliver the stimulator 16 and the antenna 40, and the second catheter assembly 72 delivers a pair of electrodes 87 and 90 to different locations in the patient's vasculature. The implantation procedure commences by inserting a first guide wire 74 into the patient and threading it through the vascular system until reaching a position 75 in blood vessel 26 at which the antenna 40 is to be located as shown in FIG. 15. A second guide wire 76 also is inserted through the vascular system to a location 77 in blood vessel 19 for one of the electrodes. Then the first catheter assembly 71 is placed over the first guide wire 74 and the second catheter assembly 72 is placed over the second guide wire 76. The two catheter assemblies are slid in unison over their respective guide wires until the first catheter assembly 71 reaches the location 79 in blood vessel 18 for the stimulator 16 as illustrated in FIG. 16. The two catheter assemblies 71 and 72 have to be inserted simultaneously into the patient because the components carried by them are connected by relatively short electrical wires. Alternatively those interconnecting wires may be long enough to extend outside the patient while only some of the components have been implanted. This eliminates the need to simultaneously insert both catheter assemblies 71 and 72 and also permits testing of each component upon being finally positioned in the vascular system. For example, the antenna 40 can be tested for adequate signal reception before implanting the stimulator 16.

The first catheter assembly 71 has a first catheter 78 with a second catheter 80 extending coaxially there around. Specifically, the first catheter 78 has a lumen through which the first guide wire 74 passes and the second catheter 80 has another lumen within which the first catheter is received. A first cavity is formed between those catheters within which the antenna 40 is located. In the second catheter system 70, there is no inner sheath between the antenna and the second catheter 80, however such a sheath could be provided as in the previously described catheter system 50. A first outer sheath 82 extends longitudinally along and around the second catheter 80 forming a second cavity there between within which the stimulator 16 is located adjacent the distal end of the first catheter assembly 71.

The second catheter assembly 72 has a third catheter 84 immediately surrounding the second guide wire 76. A fourth catheter 86 extends coaxially around and along the third catheter 84 forming a cavity there between within which a first electrode 87 is located. In particular, the third catheter 84 has a lumen through which the second guide wire 76 passes and the fourth catheter 86 has another lumen within which the third catheter is received. A second outer sheath 88 extends coaxially around and along the fourth catheter 86 forming a cavity there between within which a second electrode 90 is held.

With reference to FIG. 17, while the first catheter assembly 71 is held in place, the second catheter assembly 72 is advanced along the second guide wire 76 past the end of the first catheter assembly 71 and into the blood vessel 19. As this advancement occurs, the electrical wires connecting the first and second electrodes 87 and 90 to the stimulator 16 are pulled along and unfurled from the distal end of the second catheter assembly 72. The second catheter assembly 72 continues slide over the second guide wire 76 until reaching the location desired for implantation of the second electrode 90. Then the second outer sheath 88 is withdrawn from the patient by sliding it along the remaining components of the second catheter assembly 72. That action exposes the second electrode 90 which thereby expands diametrically to become imbedded in the inner wall of the blood vessel 19, as shown in FIG. 18. Other techniques for securing the electrode in the blood vessel wall may be employed.

Then the third and fourth catheters 84 and 86 are withdrawn partially from the patient carrying the first electrode 87 through the blood vessel 19 until it is located at the desired place for implantation, as depicted in FIG. 19. If the desired location for the first electrode 87 is not along the existing route of the second guide wire 76, that guide wire may also be partially extracted from the patient and reinserted through a different route to the desired implantation point. In that latter case, the two catheters 84 and 86 then are slid along the second guide wire 76 until the first electrode 87 reaches that desired point of implantation. When the first electrode is properly positioned, the third catheter 84 is withdrawn from the patient so its distal end slides over the first electrode 87. Upon being fully exposed, the first electrode 87 expands diametrically thereby engaging the walls of the blood vessel 19 becoming secured in place as illustrated in FIG. 20. Here too, other techniques may be used to secure this electrode in the blood vessel wall. Thereafter, the third catheter 84 and the second guide wire 76 are withdrawn from the patient leaving the two electrodes 87 and 90 in place, as shown in FIG. 21.

Then with the first catheter assembly 71 still positioned at the location desired for the stimulator 16, the first outer sheath 82 of the first catheter assembly 71 is withdrawn from the patient to release the stimulator. When the body 30 of the stimulator is fully exposed, it expands diametrically against the inner wall of the blood vessel 18 to secure the stimulator 16 in place, as depicted in FIG. 22. Next, the first and second catheters 78 and 80 are advanced along the first guide wire 74, through the now expanded stimulator body 30, until the collapsed antenna 40 carried by those catheters is located within the blood vessel 26 at the desired position for implantation shown in FIG. 23. At this time, the second catheter 80 is pulled at least partially from of the patient to expose the antenna 40 thereby allowing the antenna coil to expand against the inner wall of the blood vessel 26 as exemplified in FIG. 24. Then, the first catheter 78 and the first guide wire 74 are removed from the patient, either separately or in unison. This leaves the medical device 15, comprising the stimulator 16, antenna 40 and the first and second electrodes 87 and 90, implanted in the patient's vasculature as shown in FIG. 25.

The foregoing description was primarily directed to preferred embodiments of the invention. Even though some attention was given to various alternatives within the scope of the invention, it is anticipated that one skilled in the art will likely realize additional alternatives that are now apparent from disclosure of embodiments of the invention. For example, different quantities of components for the medical device can be implanted by modifying the catheter assembly with more catheters and sheaths, and the position of the components on the catheter assembly can be changed to enable a different order of implantation. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined from the following claims and not limited by the above disclosure. 

1. A catheter system for implanting a medical device in an animal, wherein the medical device has a plurality of components for implantation at different locations, said catheter system comprising: a guide wire; an inner catheter with a guide wire lumen within which the guide wire is slidably receivable; and a tubular outer sheath through which the inner catheter extends, wherein a first component and a second component of the medical device being releasably located between the inner catheter and the outer sheath with an electrically conductive wire connected to both the first and second components; wherein the catheter system is manipulable to independently release each of the first component and the second component at different locations in the animal.
 2. The catheter system as recited in claim 1 further comprising: first cavity formed between the inner catheter and the outer sheath within which a first component of the medical device is releasably located; and a second cavity formed between the inner catheter and the outer sheath within which a second component of the medical device is releasably located, wherein the electrically conductive wire extends between the first and second cavities; and a member separating the first and second cavities.
 3. The catheter system as recited in claim 1 wherein the tubular outer sheath is slidable with respect to the inner catheter to release the first component into the animal.
 4. The catheter system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an intermediate catheter extending within the tubular outer sheath and having a lumen within which the inner catheter extends.
 5. The catheter system as recited in claim 4 wherein the intermediate catheter and the inner catheter are slidable with respect to each other to release the second component into the animal.
 6. A catheter system for implanting a medical device in an animal, wherein the medical device has a plurality of components that are electrically interconnected, said catheter system comprising: a first guide wire; a first catheter with a first lumen extending along a longitudinal axis and within which the first guide wire is slidably receivable; a second catheter with a second lumen in which the first catheter is slidably received, wherein a first cavity is defined between the first and second catheters; a first component of the medical device releasably located in the first cavity; a tubular first outer sheath through which the second catheter slidably extends, wherein a second cavity is defined between the second catheter and the first outer sheath; and a second component of the medical device releasably located in the second cavity.
 7. The catheter system as recited in claim 6 wherein the tubular first outer sheath is slidable with respect to the second catheter to release the second component into the animal.
 8. The catheter system as recited in claim 6 wherein the second catheter is slidable with respect to the first catheter to release the first component into the animal.
 9. The catheter system as recited in claim 6 further comprising a first inner sheath between the first and second catheters with the first component located between the first inner sheath and the first catheter.
 10. The catheter system as recited in claim 6 wherein the first component is one of a stimulation circuit, an antenna, and an electrode, and the second component is another one of a stimulation circuit, an antenna, and an electrode.
 11. The catheter system as recited in claim 6 wherein at least one of the first component and the second component comprises an expandable body that is held in a collapsed state in the catheter system and which expands upon being released from the catheter system.
 12. The catheter system as recited in claim 6 wherein the first component and the second component are located in tandem along the longitudinal axis.
 13. The catheter system as recited in claim 6 further comprising: a third catheter within the first outer sheath and having a third lumen through which the second catheter is slidably received, wherein the second cavity is formed between the second and third catheters and a third cavity is formed between the third catheter and the first outer sheath; and a third component of the medical device releasably located in the third cavity.
 14. The catheter system as recited in claim 13 further comprising: a first inner sheath extending between the first and second catheters with the first component located between the first inner sheath and the first catheter; and a second inner sheath extending between the second and third catheters with the second component located between the second inner sheath and the second catheter.
 15. The catheter system as recited in claim 6 further comprising; a second guide wire; a third catheter with a third lumen within which the second guide wire is slidably receivable; a second outer sheath through which the third catheter slidably extends, wherein a third cavity is defined between the third catheter and the second outer sheath; and a third component of the medical device releasably located in the third cavity and electrically connected by a wire to one of the first and second components.
 16. The catheter system as recited in claim 6 further comprising; a second guide wire; a third catheter with a third lumen in which the second guide wire is slidably receivable; a fourth catheter with a fourth lumen in which the third catheter is slidably received, wherein a third cavity is defined between the third and fourth catheters; a third component of the medical device releasably located in the third cavity; a tubular second outer sheath through which the fourth catheter slidably extends, wherein a fourth cavity is defined between the fourth catheter and the second outer sheath; and a fourth component of the medical device releasably located in the second cavity; wherein at least one of the third component and the fourth component is electrically connected by a wire to one of the first component and the second component.
 17. The catheter system as recited in claim 16 further comprising an inner sheath extending between the third and fourth catheters with the third component located between the inner sheath and the third catheter.
 18. A method of implanting a medical device in an animal, wherein the medical device has a plurality of components, said method comprising: inserting a first guide wire to a first location inside the animal; inserting a first catheter assembly releasably containing a first component and a second component of the medical device over the first guide wire until the first catheter assembly reaches the first location, wherein the first component and the second component are electrically connected; releasing one of the first component and the second component at the first location inside the animal; repositioning the first catheter assembly to a second location inside the animal; and releasing another one of the first component and the second component at the second location inside the animal.
 19. The method as recited in claim 18 wherein inserting a first catheter assembly comprises employs a first catheter assembly that comprises a first catheter with a first lumen within which the first guide wire is received, and a tubular first outer sheath through which the first catheter extends, a first cavity defined between the first catheter and the first outer sheath and releasably containing a first component of the medical device, and a second cavity defined between the first catheter and the first outer sheath and releasably containing a second component of the medical device.
 20. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein repositioning the first catheter assembly comprises relocating the first guide wire adjacent the second location.
 21. The method recited in claim 19 further comprising removing the first catheter assembly from the animal leaving the first and second components inside the animal.
 22. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the first catheter assembly further comprises a second catheter within the first outer sheath and having a second lumen within which the first catheter is slidably received, wherein the first cavity is defined between the first and second catheters and the second cavity is defined between the second catheter and the first outer sheath.
 23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein repositioning the first catheter assembly comprises relocating the first guide wire adjacent the second location.
 24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein repositioning the first catheter assembly further comprises sliding at least one of the first and second catheters along the first guide wire to the second location.
 25. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein releasing one of the first component and the second component comprises sliding the first outer sheath and the second catheter with respect to each other.
 26. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein releasing another one of the first component and the second component comprises sliding the first catheter and the second catheter with respect to each other.
 27. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the first catheter assembly further comprises an inner sheath extending between the first and second catheters; and wherein releasing another one of the first component and the second component comprises sliding the inner sheath and the first catheter with respect to each other.
 28. The method as recited in claim 22 further comprising: inserting a second guide wire to a third location inside the animal; inserting a second catheter assembly over the second guide wire until the second catheter assembly reaches the third location, wherein the second catheter assembly comprises a third catheter with a third lumen in which the second guide wire is slidably received, and a tubular second outer sheath through which the third catheter slidably extends, wherein a third cavity is defined between the third catheter and the second outer sheath and releasably contains a third component that is electrically connected by a wire to one of the first and second components; and releasing the third component inside the animal.
 29. The method as recited in claim 28 wherein inserting a first catheter assembly and inserting a second catheter assembly are performed in unison.
 30. The method as recited in claim 28 wherein releasing the third component comprises sliding the second outer sheath and the third catheter with respect to each other.
 31. The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising removing the second catheter assembly from the animal while leaving the third component inside the animal.
 32. The method as recited in claim 22 further comprising: inserting a second guide wire to a third location inside the animal; inserting a second catheter assembly over the second guide wire until the second catheter assembly reaches the third location, wherein the second catheter assembly comprises a third catheter with a third lumen in which the second guide wire is slidably received, a fourth catheter with a fourth lumen within which the third catheter is slidably received, a third cavity defined between the third and fourth catheters and releasably containing a third component of the medical device, a tubular second outer sheath through which the fourth catheter slidably extends, and a fourth cavity defined between the fourth catheter and the second outer sheath and releasably containing a fourth component of the medical device, wherein at least one of the third and fourth components is electrically connected by a wire to one of the first and second components; releasing one of the third component and the fourth component inside the animal; repositioning the second catheter assembly to a fourth location in the animal; and releasing another one of the third component and the fourth component inside the animal.
 33. The method as recited in claim 32 wherein inserting a first catheter assembly and inserting a second catheter assembly are performed in unison.
 34. The method as recited in claim 32 wherein repositioning the second catheter assembly comprises: moving the second guide wire adjacent the fourth location; and sliding at least one of the third and fourth catheters along the second guide wire to the fourth location.
 35. The method as recited in claim 32 wherein releasing one of the third component and the fourth component comprises sliding the second outer sheath and the fourth catheter with respect to each other.
 36. The method as recited in claim 32 wherein releasing another one of the third component and the fourth component comprises sliding the third catheter and the fourth catheter with respect to each other.
 37. The method as recited in claim 32 wherein the second catheter assembly further comprises an inner sheath extending between the third and fourth catheters; and wherein releasing another one of the third component and the fourth component comprises sliding the inner sheath and the third catheter with respect to each other. 